CONSERVATION OF ENERGY

The Law of Conservation of Energy states that energy is transformed from one form to
another; energy is neither created nor destroyed, and thus, energy has always existed
in one form or another.

Also, according to the Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy, the total mechanical
energy of an object may be.

In order for Law of Conservation of Mechanical Energy to hold true, it is necessary to

make sure the system under consideration does not contain any frictional forces or
other types of forces like the push force.

To solve problem regarding the conservation of mechanical energy, it is important

identify two different position of the object and recognize the types of energy present
each of the position. The reference points used when computing for the potential
energies must be consistent all throughout the solution of the problem.

Kinetic energy is zero when the object is not moving. Gravitational potential energy is
zero when the object is at the reference point and elastic potential energy is zero when
the spring is at its equilibrium position.

Since there is no spring, there is no need to include the equation of elastic potential
energy on either side of the equation leaving just kinetic and potential energy on both
the left and right sides of the equation.
The first position on the diagram is the one on the left. The object is held by a string at
the top position. Since it is not moving, the only energy the object has is potential
energy.

When the object is released, it now moves to the second position, the one on the right.
This time, it reaches the reference point, and is moving right before it reaches the floor;
thus, it has kinetic energy.

The transformation of energy has taken place. The object potential energy has been
transformed to kinetic energy. Study how energy is conserved in the example above.